Day 01

AIRPORT – CHILAW - NEGOMBO

On arrival the client will be met by the Glorious Travels representatives and will be decorated with garlands of “Temple tree flowers”.  Thereafter they will be introduced to the local tour guide who will be accompanying them around the Island. Afterwards transfer to Chilaw to visit Munneshwaram & Mannavari Temple.

Muneeshwaram Temple
It is believed that Muneeshwaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was located here. Muneeshwaram means the first temple for Shiva (Munnu + Easwaran). A Shiva Lingam was already here when Lord Rama visited this place. Lord Rama after his victorious battle left for Ayodhya with Sitha in one of King Ravana’s Vimanas. He felt he was being followed by a Bramhaasthi Dosham (a malevolent black shadow) as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin Thereafter proceed to Mannavari Temple

Mannavari Temple
When the Vimana was passing over Muneeshwaram, he felt the Vimana vibrating, and realized the Brahmaasti Dosham was not following him at this particular point. He stopped the Vimana at this juncture and asked god Lord Shiva for advice. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised installing and praying at four lingams located at Mannavari, Thiru Koneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram and Rameshwaram in India as the only remedy to get rid of the dosham. The first lingam was installed at Mannavari about 5km from here, near the banks of the Deduru Oya

• Dinner & overnight stay at Negombo {Options given below separately}

Day 02

NEGOMBO - KANDY

After breakfast proceed to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the orphanage has grown to be a big family today. The number of elephants has increased to more than 40 now, including baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the babies born, asa result of the captive breeding programme. A unique experience never to be missed (Approx. 2 hrs to visit)

In the evening take part in a puja ceremony at the Temple of the Holy Tooth Relic and a cultural and dance show close to the Kandy lake.

Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic and Kandy City
Ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden  from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.

Cultural Dance
The Dance was done during the king’s times as an entertaining show for the kings. However its popularity reduced when the British took over, but now it’s revived and taken on for the stage. The Kandyan Music & the Dresses all are a beauty to watch.

• Dinner & overnight stay at hotel in Kandy {Options given below separately}

Day 03

KANDY – MAHIYANGANAYA - KANDY

After Breakfast Day excursion to major Ramayana sites Dunuwila & Laggala, Yahanagala, Weragantota, Sitakotuwa, Gurulupota Lankapura

Dunuvila & Laggala
Dunuvila on the outskirts of Wasgamuwa National Park is sometimes spelled Dunuwila, Dunuvila, or Dunuwilla. It is said to have been the place from where Lord Rama fired the deadly Brahmasthram weapon at King Ravana. The reason for this identification is: "Dunu" which means arrow and "Vila" which means Lake. So it is explained that this place got its name because Lord Rama fired his arrow from this lake.

The cartels behind the Dunuvila Lake are called Laggala. Laggala is derived from the Sinhala term Ilakka Gala, which when translated into English gives us the meaning  Target Rock”. Laggala served as an entry point to King Ravana’s army and it was from this rock the first Glimpse of Lord Rama’s army was sighted. This hill is geographically the highest part of the  northern region and on a clear day Thiru Koneshwaran and Talai Mannar can been seen. King Ravana is believed to have meditated on this rock and prayed at Thiru Koneshwaran to Lord Shiva. It is here that King Ravana was killed by Lord Rama’s Brahmaastharam. The top of Laggala is flat and believed to have been hit by the Brahmaastharam.

Yahangala
Yahangala means bedrock. The Ramayana Trail legend interprets this name in the following way: King Ravana's dead body was kept upon this rock for his fellow countrymen to allow them to pay their last respects to their departed highly respected king. There is another local legend g iving an alternative version of the meaning of Yahangala stating that Ravana did not really die but only became unconscious. His body remains hidden in the rock

Weragantota
Weragantota was the capital city of King Ravana and means “a place of fl ying chariot (aircraft) landing” in Sinhala language. It is believed to be the first place where Sitha was brought into Sri Lanka in King Ravana’s Vimana. These jungles are the place where the city of Lankapura once stood. The city had a beautiful palace for Queen Mandodari surrounded by waterfalls, streams and varieties of flora and fauna.

Sitha Kotuwa
Sita Kotuwa is situated close to Gurulupotha, Hasalaka. It is a beautiful remote spot, surrounded by streams and waterfalls and limestone caves and abundant flora and fauna, where ruins of a typical forest monastery from the late Anuradhapura centuries (7th to 10th century) can be visited. But the name Sita Kotuwa meaning "Sita's fortress" connects it to the Ramayana Trail. The area is said to have been the beautiful palace of queen Mandothari. Sitadevi was held captive in this palace until she was moved to Asoka Vatika. Sita Kotuwa means Sita's fortress.  

Gurulupotha Lankapura
Here was a flying chariot (aircraft) repair center known as Gurulupotha. In V almiki’s depiction King Ravana’s Vimana resembled a huge peacock. The Vimana in Sinhala language means Dhandu Monara which is known as “flying peacock”; hence the name Gurulupotha, which means “parts of birds”.

• Dinner & overnight stay at hotel in Kandy {Options given below separately}

Day 04

KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA

After Breakfast transfer to Nuwara Eliya. En-route visit Ramboda Hanuman Temple,  Labookelle , Sita Pokuna and Water Falls, Tea Factory & Estate.

Manikattuter Labookellie
Mani Kattuther is a small and flat rock boulder within the tea plantations of Labookellie estate. It is believed that Lord Hanuman, after meeting Sitadevi, rested on this hill top on his way back to Lord Rama with the happy news of finding his missed consort. Nowadays an open temple with statues of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman stands on top of it. Locals visit the holy place frequently.

Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple
In the hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sita, the Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka built the Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple which is visited by thousands of devotees every year.

Pussellawa Sita Pokuna
The summit of the mountain next to Pussallawa is the site where Lord Hanuman first set his foot on Lanka. Close to Pusselawa there is a barren piece of land in the jungle called Sita Pokuna, also known as Sita Tear Pond. Remarkably no vegetation except grass grows on this piece of land which is surrounded by a dense forest. Sita Pokuna is one of the many places believed to have been, at times, an abode of Sita during her captivity in Lanka, namely when Ravana transferred her from his palace to Ashok Vatika. The Sita tear pond is found en route by the chariot route, is believed to have been formed by the tears of Sitadevi and has not dried up since, even during severe droughts when the adjoining rivers dry up. In this area there are many large trees whose bright red blooms add colour to the scenery. These flowers are called Sita flowers. The peculiarity of these flowers is the configuration of the petal’s, stamen and pistil’s, which resemble a human figure carrying a bow, and is said to represent Lord Rama. These flowers are unique only to this area in the whole of Sri Lanka.
There after commence Nuwara Eliya City Tour including Gregory Lake, Victoria Park.

Nuwara Eliya
The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations.  It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence.  Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.

• Dinner & overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya {Options given below separately}

Day 05

NUWARA ELIYA – RAVANA ELLA - KATARAGAMA

After breakfast proceed to kataragama En-route Visiting Sita Amaman temple, Ashoka Vanam , Divrompola Sita devi Agni tested place , Ishtripura caves in welimada , Ravana waterfalls, Ravana caves , Udaganawa ( related of Ramayana epic )

Isthripura Caves
The Sinhalese word Ishtripura or Shtripura means "area of women". It is said that Ravana shifted Sita to this cave as a precautionary measure after Lord Hanuman's advent on Lanka. Legend has it that Sitadevi took a bath in the nearby stream and afterwards dried her hair sitting on a rock and put clips to her hair, hence this rock is known as Konda Kattu Gala, Konda means hair, and Kattu are clips.

Ravana Ella
The Ravana Ella Falls and the Rawana Ella Cave are located close to the Wellawaya main road in the famous valley called Ella gap, only about 6 kms away from the town of Ella well known for its splendid views to the Ella gap. The cascading waterfall measures about 25 metres. It is believed that Sita bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. The nearby Rawana Ella cave is quite small, only 50 metres long. As in the case of Ishthripura Cave in Welimada, legend has it that it was used by King Rawana to hide princess Sita. It is believed to belong to a network of tunnels also connecting it to the Dova temple and to all the palaces and airports and dairy farms of King Ravana. Archaeological findings in the Rawana Cave include a human skull dating back to 20,000 BC.

Ravana Cave
These tunnels prove beyond doubt the architectural brilliance of King Ravana. These tunnels served as a quick means of transport through the hills and also as a secret passage. These tunnels networked all the important cities, airport and dairy farms. A close look at these tunnels indicates that they are where a palace and a tunnel existed. Existing tunnels mouths are situated in Ishtripura at Welimada, Ravana cave at Bandarawela, Senapitiya at Halagala, Ramboda, Labookellie, Wariyapola, Matale and Sitakotuwa Hasalaka. In addition there are many more tunnels.

Yudaganawa
Yudaganawa is an excavation area only a few kilometres west of Puttalam at the Wellawaya to Monaragala main road A4. The Kinkine Vihara is situated here, the largest Buddhist stupa of the island's south. The Ramayana Trail legend has it that Yudaganawa (instead of the formerly identified Yudaganapitiya in the northern highlands) was the arena for the final battle between Rama and Ravana. It is said that the destruction caused by this war is the reason why this piece of land can never bear any vegetation again.

Divurumpola Temple
Still revered by thousands, this holy haven was the place where Sita performed her Agni Pariksha (proving her chastity) to her husband Rama. Continuing the practice for thousands of years, villagers still pledge their fidelity or take oaths there and even in certain courts, this agreement was binding. This place has been respected and worshipped by people down the ages.There after proceed to Kataragama.

• Dinner & overnight stay at Kataragama {Options given below separately}

Day 06

KATARAGAMA – GALLE - COLOMBO

After breakfast , visit Kataragama Murugan Temple, proceed to Colombo En-visiting kirinda beach , Ussangoda , Rumassala Sanjeewanee drops , Sinigama God temple,

Kataragama
Kataragama is the name of the God and his hometown as well. Kataragama is the Sinhalese form of Skanda, also known as Subhramaniya. He usually is called Murugan or Karthikeya by Tamils. His local consort Valli and his Indian consort Teyvanai (Devasena) and his brother Ganesha are worshipped in their respective own shrines in the holy city of Kataragama, too. Sinhalese worship Skanda-Kataragama as one of their four or five national Gods, especially as protector of the island's south. For Buddhists, Kataragama is a place additionally sanctified by a visit of the Buddha. Even Wedda Tribals and Muslim Sufis regard Kataragama as a prominent place of worshipping God. Kataragama deiyo furthermore is linked to the Ramayana Trail legend. Lord Indra is said to have given him orders to join the battle at the last day of the war to protect Lord Rama from the powerful wrath of Lanka's demon king Ravana.

Kirinda Beach
According to the Sinhalese tradition, the temple of the Kirinda marks the place where Princes Viharamaha Devi landed after her father, the king of Kelaniya, set her adrift on a golden vessel. Later on she became the consort of Sri Lanka's most famous King Dutugemunu. The Ramayana Trail legend tells that Seetha was kept captive here for nearly one year. Ravana administrative capital was Ravana Kotte. This is identified as the Basses reefs Southeast of Kirinda. Though the palace is sunk in the sea, some parts of it are said to be seen sometimes during low tides.

Ussangoda
Ussangoda is a strange coastal area because of its lack of trees. Its serpentine rock contains heavy toxic metals. Only specific smaller plants were able to adapt to this soil. But according to the Ramayana legend, there are two more explanations for the baldness of Ussangoda. After meeting Sitadevi, Lord Hanuman provoked the mighty King Ravana and his army of Rakshasas. It resulted in Lord Hanuman's tail being set on fire by Rakshasas. Hanuman in turn went on to torch parts of King Ravana's empire with his burning tail. Ussangoda is said to be one of these burnt areas. Besides the Ramyana Trail legend has it that earlier on the Ussangoda plateau was used an airport by King Ravana for his Dandu Monara peacock chariot, before Hanuman devastated the landing site.

Rumassa Sanjeewani Drops
Rumassala hill 3 kms east of Galle is the landmark of Unuwatuna beach because of the picturesque white Buddhist Dagoba on top of it. Rumassala rock is one of the five Sri Lankan spots believed to originate from parts of Mount Dronagiri. They fell down when Hanuman carried the Dronagiri on his flight back to Lanka in order to use its Sanjiwani herb to rescue Lakhshmana and Rama who were in need of this medical plant to be reanimated after suffering severe injuries. Rumassala is also said to be an abode of Sita during her stay in Lanka.

Seenigama Temple
Seenigama is a small village on the south-west coast close to Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka's most popular beach resort for coral reef snorkeling. The Seenigama temple is situated on a very small island. This Devale is dedicated to the local God Devol Deviyo, who protects fishermen and their boats. The Ramayana trail legend has it that Seenigama was the landing place from where Sugriva, King of the Varanas and their monkey army, launched his onslaught on Ravana's demon army.After that transfer to Colombo.

• Dinner & overnight stay at  Colombo {Options given below separately}

Day 07

COLOMBO – KELANIYA - COLOMBO

After breakfast visit Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple & Vibeeshana Temple.

Anjaneyar Temple
This kovil is the first Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka and the only one on the island dedicated to Lord Hanuman in his Panchamuga form – this means with five faces. And it is said to be the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Anjaneyar. Its chariot festival is held annually at the end of December or at the beginning of January. It is one of the most popular processions in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. Visitors are advised to wash hands and feet before entering the temple and not to cross hands inside the temple.

Kelaniya Vibeeshana Temple
Kelaniya is a Buddhist sanctuary because it was believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself. Within the temple premises there is a Hindu shrine, too. It is dedicated to Lord Vibhishana who was the younger brother of Ravana but during the legendary war on Lanka a supporter of Lord Rama, because he disapproved of Ravana's abduction of Sita. After Ravana's death Rama appointed Vibhishana as the new King of Lanka. Vibhishana is venerated by Sinhalese Buddhists as a God, they believe him to be one of the main protectors of the island, especially in its western territories.Commence  a City Tour in Colombo in the evening.

Colombo

A drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and Independence Square.

Shopping- visit Mlesna exquisite tea boutique, cashew nut shop, ready made garments and all sorts at Majestic City. Visit the Lanka Ceramics Centre, a place where you can buy “NORITAKE SET” or other ceramic items, visit the ‘ODEL SHOP’  at Lipton Place. Visit ’BAREFOO T’, ’HOUSE OF FASHION’ and 'BEVERLY STREET' – 24 hours shopping arcade (garments only) at Kollpity.

• Dinner & overnight stay at Colombo {Options given below separately}

Day 08

COLOMBO – AIRPORT

After breakfast proceed to Airport to connect with the departure flight.